Let’s Get Cooking
Cereal for dinner again?
For many parents, cooking can be a chore. Many of us make the same meals on a regular basis, rarely venturing outside of our culinary comfort zones. Add kids’ activities and parent’s work schedules into the mix, and we often don’t have sufficient time or ingredients to make the meals we want. Before you break out the corn flakes for dinner again, why not check out local cooking classes?
We’ve rounded up just shy of a baker’s dozen list of classes for adults to polish their cooking and baking skills. Different schools and restaurants offer courses in meals (soups, appetizers, pasta), specific cooking techniques (knifing, butchering) and meal themes (vegan, grain free, country-specific dishes).
Have a kid passionate about baking? We’ve noted a few places specializing in sessions for children to craft an array of bountiful sweets.
Junior Chefs in Training
“Can I help make dinner?”
A great way to bond with your children is to cook together. Whether it’s preparing dinner or baking the favorite family recipe for chocolate chip cookies, kids can have a lot of fun in the kitchen too. We’ve highlighted the local spots that include classes for the next generation of chefs.
Hands-On Cooking and Baking Classes in Greater Kalamazoo
Cakes N Candy | 4104 S. Sprinkle Rd., Kalamazoo | 269-345-2253
Each month offers a new theme for kids classes at Cakes N Candy. They will be led step by step through the decorating process and will come home with a tasty treat that they decorated themselves.
Schedule: Monthly Class
Downtown Market Grand Rapids | 435 Ionia Avenue SW, Grand Rapids | 616-805-5308
Downtown Market offers courses in multiple categories: Dinner Series, Cocktails, Workshops, and Greenhouse.
Kids: Children aged 16+ are permitted in most adult courses (excludes cocktail series). Also offers courses for kids and teens (ages 7-11 and 12-15).
Food Dance | 401 E. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo | 269-382-1888
Tastings (wine, bourbon), cooking skills (butchering, knifing) and cooking courses (soups, grilling) are all options offered at Food Dance’s classes.
Schedule: Varies, most courses are on weekdays from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Joann | 5420 Beckley Rd., Battle Creek | 269-979-5156
Kids can participate in a Learn to Decorate with Frosting class where they will learn how to prepare, fill, and use decorating bags, and also basic piping techniques. Other decorating classes for kids are occasionally offered, such as cookie decorating classes.
Kellogg Community College | 450 North Avenue, Battle Creek | 269-965-3931
Making bread, cheese, and gardening techniques are all covered on their campus in Battle Creek.
Schedule: Varies, most courses are weekdays from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Kalamazoo Valley Community College | 418 E Walnut Street, Kalamazoo | 269-353-1253
KVCC’s classes feature both a chef and registered dietician as they explore both cooking and nutrition. Classes cover specific foods (making pasta, baked goods) and foods by location (Thai street food, Rustic Italian).
Schedule: Weekdays, starting at 5:30 PM.
Kids: Family cooking classes, cooking fundamentals for kids
Portage Community Education | 8135 S Westnedge Avenue, Portage | 269-323-6700
Need to perfect your Instant Pot Skills? Portage offers courses on Instant Pots and more topics throughout the year at Portage Central High School.
Schedule: Varies. Most courses are on weekdays from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM.
The Henderson Castle | 100 Monroe Street, Kalamazoo | 269-344-1827
This historic bed and breakfast hosts classes in their teaching kitchen on weekends.
Schedule: Weekends, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Kids: Classes offered for ages 7-14
The People’s Food Co-op | 507 Harrison Street, Kalamazoo | 269-342-5686
The People’s Food Co-op classes include vegan options, soup making, and more.
Schedule: Tuesdays, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Kids: Children (aged 12-17) can attend for FREE with a paid adult
Online Course (Adult)
Kellogg Community College | 450 North Avenue, Battle Creek | 269-965-3931
No time to attend courses in person? Kellogg Community College offers online-only courses as a flexible option for learning at home when your schedule permits.
In-Home Subscription (Kids)
Another option for your budding chef is Raddish, a monthly subscription service. Each monthly kit (aimed at ages 4-14) includes illustrated recipes, grocery lists, kid-friendly cooking tools and skill cards to work on their culinary techniques.
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